I thought I couldnt run to the end of the road! by CarolGoodwin

A bit about me - Im married to Mervyn and have 8 children, Oliver, Andrew, Amanda, Chloe, Stuart, Hannah, Sophie and Phoebe.  I work during the day for the NHS as an administator and teach Zumba and bellydancing 5 times a week. 

I took Sophie to london last year and it was the same day at the london marathon, I found it very emotional watching the runners and seeing the support they were receiving from everyone - it made me want to run it myself.  My eldest daughter Amanda who had been running for about a year persuaded me to enter the marathon with her - quite an odd thing to do you might think considering I had not run a step since being at school!  The months went on and on holiday in Dubai in August I thought I had better see if I could actually run - I ran along the beach for less than 1/4 mile - it felt like miles but I enjoyed it so got up at 6.00am a few days later and did the same again but a bit longer - I did the same again a few days later but again, a bit longer.  When I got home I was really pleased and told Amanda who promptly took me on a 3 mile run - my legs were like jelly at the end and I couldnt have run another step.

I did the same 3 mile route by myself a few days later and the week after increased to 4.5 miles.  The distance steadily increased to 7 miles and then 9 - when I finished the 9 miles I entered the Great Eastern Run (2 weeks to go).  The following day I went on holiday to Jamaica but ran every other day in the gym to keep my fitness up.  The following week was the race which I ran with Hannah my younger daughter, 6 weeks after my first run.  Hannah kept me going to the finish line, in fact she virtually pulled me across it!!!  I remember saying to Hannah when I was running 'who on earth would want to do a marathon, this is bad enough' - and now of course im training to do one!!  Unfortunately I didnt get a ballot place in the Marathon, Amanda got one, but I decided to look for a charity place with Amanda's help and here we are!  I am also running the Edinburgh Marathon on May 27th - I agreed to run this with Amanda before I got my charity place - hopefully I will be fit enough to do both of them.  Im not going for a particular time, just to cross the finish line will do me !

Since October I have completed several half marathons, 10 miles and a 15 mile race and im determined to cross the finish line at London.